Jonathan Kuminga: The Key to the Warriors’ Future as Curry’s Era Winds Down

Last season, even though every member of the team was healthy, they missed the playoffs, and the Curry-Green era was almost over. The Warriors are very aware, over the past year, that they have sought the reinforcement of big names that they dismissed once, trying and failing to hire LeBron James, Paul George and Lauri Markannen.

Suddenly, the Warriors’ “young heart” must become their real heart. And when the sun goes down on the Warriors’ empire, the outcome of Curry’s career will depend on how quickly Jonathan Kuminga can step into his prime.

In his third season, the 21-year-old Kuminga solidified himself as an important but not absolute centerpiece in the Warriors’ rotation. Since the Warriors selected him with the seventh overall pick in 2021, Kuminga has been one of the team’s best offensive players every minute.

Last year, he proved he could be one of the most productive players in every game, averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 26.3 minutes. It is worth noting that he scored 29.5 points per 100 possessions, ranking second on the team, and his 138 dunks set a team record.

While Kuminga may be the most important piece of the team’s long-term plan, his succession also represents something of a departure from the Warriors’ philosophy of success. The success of the Warriors dynasty comes from their mastery of basketball details and wisdom, but Kuminga is a more direct player. The reason why he is a great scorer is not because of his outstanding skills, but because he is tall, strong and has an amazing jump. For better or worse, he’s the rare Warriors player who can move his body faster than his mind can react.

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As a result, there was some tension between Kuminga and the Warriors: He was the most normal player in a team that prided itself on breaking the rules. Despite his amazing numbers, it was difficult for him to earn the trust of Steve Kerr, who seemed to hold back every minute he got the floor.

In the winter, Kuminga discussed his future with the team with the senior management, and the Warriors also discussed a trade offer for him this summer. As the rookie contract extension deadline approaches, there may be an inevitable gap between the contract Kuminga wants and the contract the Warriors are willing to offer. In Kuminga’s mind, he is the bridge that connects the two Warrior ages; in Kerr’s eyes, Kuminga is too unstable to play a significant role right now.

However, both views have merit. Kuminga, along with fellow young players Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, represent a rare source of potential for the Warriors. If all goes well, the rise of Kuminga will offset the decline of Curry and Green.

Ideally, Kuminga could be the type of wing scorer with the power and speed to appear in All-Star lineups and signature sneaker commercials. At certain times, he even looked like a young Jaylen Brown with improved equipment, driving past defenders and going straight into the penalty area.

However, Kuminga is not even guaranteed to get the starting position this year, let alone whether he can be the center of the team in the future. Apart from his brilliant scoring performance, his playing style is immature and lacks finesse and intelligence. For Kuminga, every offense with the ball has the potential to turn into an exciting process, and it seems that every defensive move is secretly waiting to catch him.

He also cannot do multi-line operations while holding the ball. Instead of being a real scorer, it is better to say that he is just a player who aims to score. Defensively, every shift is like an emergency response, and even though his athletic ability makes him a good defender, his lack of court vision also prevents him from being a good protection Last January, Kerr controversially hailed Kuminga for ignoring the “details” necessary to the Warriors’ complex playbook.

However, by the end of the month, Kuminga was moved back to the starting lineup. No matter how lazy Kerr is, the Warriors need Kuminga. They no longer have the right to be arrogant, as the 2024 version of Curry is far inferior to the 2022 version, let alone compared to the 2016 version.

In this sense, The Warriors is torn between romanticism and realism. It’s their responsibility to give Curry and Green one last chance to compete for the championship, but it’s also their responsibility to keep hope for Curry’s future after he retires . And Kuminga is their best chance to strike a balance between the two: his growth will determine whether the final season of Curry’s career is the dying of the light or the passing of the torch .

[Deasaiche sònraichte Chen Zihao / Neach-deasachaidh os cionn Xie Yiqian]

Reference for compiling this article:The Real: Jonathan Kuminga And The Golden State Warriors